Old Man Atom
Sons Of The Pioneers Lyrics

Well, I'm gonna preach you a sermon 'bout Old Man Atom,
I'm going to talk about the power of the atom and its impact.

I don't mean the Adam in the Bible datum.
I'm not referring to religious or spiritual concepts.

I don't mean the Adam that Mother Eve mated,
I'm not talking about biological reproduction.

I mean that thing that science liberated.
I'm referring to the discoveries of science that revealed the potential of the atom.

Einstein says he's scared,
Even Einstein was apprehensive about the atom's power.

And when Einstein's scared, I'm scared.
If someone as knowledgeable as Einstein is apprehensive, then I am too.

Here's my moral, plain as day,
Here's the lesson that needs to be understood:

Old Man Atom is here to stay.
The atom is an undeniable reality of our world.

He's gonna hang around, it's plain to see,
The atom is not going anywhere anytime soon.

But, ah, my dearly beloved, are we?
The real question is whether humanity can survive alongside the atom.

We hold these truths to be self-evident
There are some facts that are undeniable.

All men may be cremated equal.
No matter who you are, the destructive power of the atom is indiscriminate.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki -- here's my text
The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are an example of the devastating power of the atom.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki -- Lordy, who'll be next.
The concern is who will be affected by atomic devastation next.

The science guys, from every clime,
Scientists from all over the world contributed to the understanding of atom's power.

They all pitched in with overtime.
Scientists worked tirelessly to grasp the atom's power.

Before they knew it, the job was done;
The impact of the atom was realized quickly.

They'd hitched up the power of the gosh-darn sun,
Scientists were able to harness nuclear power like that of the sun.

They put a harness on Old Sol,
Scientists were able to replicate the sun's energy.

Splittin' atoms, while the diplomats was splittin' hairs . . .
While diplomats discussed minor issues, scientists were splitting atoms with huge consequences.

But the atom's international, in spite of hysteria,
The atom has a global impact regardless of people's reactions.

Flourishes in Utah, also Siberia.
The atom is present in many places around the world, even in remote locations.

And whether you're white, black, red or brown,
The power of the atom affects all people regardless of race.

The question is this, when you boil it down:
Essentially, the question is this:

To be or not to be!
Will humanity survive or perish due to atomic power?

Atoms to atoms, and dust to dust,
As with all things, the atom will eventually break down into its elemental components.

If the world makes A-bombs, something's bound to bust.
If humanity continues to make atomic bombs, disaster is inevitable.

No, the answer to it all isn't military datum,
War is not the answer to the problems of the atomic age.

Like 'Who gets there fustest with the mostest atoms,'
The competition for atomic superiority will only lead to disaster.

But the people of the world must decide their fate,
It's up to humanity to determine its own future.

We got to stick together or disintegrate.
Either we work together to prevent catastrophe or face certain destruction.

World peace and the atomic golden age or a push-button war,
We either work towards peace or risk a war that could be catastrophic.

Mass cooperation or mass annihilation,
If we fail to cooperate, we will face mass destruction.

Civilian international control of the atom -- one world or none.
It's important to have a unified effort at the global level to control atomic power.

If you're gonna split atoms, well, you can't split ranks.
We must all work together and avoid division if we want to prevent disaster.

So if you're scared of the A-bomb, I'll tell you what to do:
If you're afraid of atomic power, here's what you can do:

You got to get with all the people in the world with you.
Work together with all people to prevent disaster.

You got to get together and let out a yell,
All people must unite and make their voices heard.

Or the first thing you know we'll blow this world to...
Without global cooperation, humanity cannot survive the power of the atom.

We must choose between
Ultimately, we have to decide between:

The brotherhood of man or smithereens.
Working together as a unified humanity, or facing destruction.

The people of the world must pick out a thesis:
Humanity must come together and decide on a plan of action:

'Peace in the world, or the world in pieces!'
Work towards peace and cooperation or face the end of the world.